Two Aircraft Enter Domestic Service In Morocco

The first two ATR 72-600 70-seat turboprop regional airliners were delivered last week to Royal Air Maroc. The aircraft will allow the Moroccan national airline to reinforce its domestic and its nearest international network. In 2009 the airline ordered four ATR 72-600s and two ATR 42-600s, for a total of over $125 million. The delivery took place in Toulouse in the presence of a Royal Air Maroc delegation.

The new aircraft are the first ATRs to be equipped with the new avionics suite developed by Thales. The avionics feature a new glass cockpit with 5 screens and new communication, navigation and monitoring systems. It is also equipped with a new flight management system (FMS), automatic pilot, alert management and a new computer including new aircraft maintenance functions, among other developments.

Driss Benhima, Chief Executive Officer of Royal Air Maroc expressed his satisfaction at becoming the first operator of this regional aircraft that represents a new benchmark in regional aviation. "The six ATR '-600s' that we are going to add to our fleet will enable us to develop new routes while offering high-quality service to our passengers," he said.

"This step is very important for the ATR -600 program," added Filippo Bagnato, CEO of ATR. "We are going to ramp up considerably as of next year, and we are going to do so by offering airlines cutting-edge aircraft and by providing them the best economic performance on the market."

The ATR 72-600 obtained European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification in May 2011, a prerequisite for its entry into service. The ATR 42-600 will be certified by the end of the year and will enter into service in 2012. Since the launch of the ATR "-600" program in October 2007, ATR has already recorded orders for some 180 "-600" series aircraft.

FMI: www.atraircraft.com